Daily Schedule for a Young Gentry Woman

Daily Schedule for a Young Gentry Woman

by Pat Gibbs

“City daughters from well to do homes were the only eighteenth century women who can accurately be described as leisured,” writes Mary Beth Norton in Liberty’s Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750-1800. Records left by and about young Virginia women support her statement and document this relatively carefree period of their lives.

From their mid teens (when their formal schooling was completed) until they married (occasionally as young as sixteen but typically in their early twenties and sometimes later), these young women generally lived a relaxed pace. Diversions included reading novels, plays, poems, and more serious literature, penning letters or writing in their journals, drawing, singing or playing musical instruments, walking or taking an airing in a chair or on horseback, boating, picking wild flowers or gathering fruit, dancing, playing cards and other games, and visiting with male and female friends.

Generally when these young women “work’d,” they picked up a needle and thread and stitched. Cutting out and sewing clothes and household linens and knitting stockings occupied a considerable portion of their time. Considerably less time was spent executing fancy needlework. Since both plain and fancy stitching were portable, young women often took sewing projects along on short and extended visits. They acquired other domestic skills including cooking and baking by assisting their mothers with household management and learning how to supervise the domestic slaves. Temporarily when their mothers were sick or permanently if they died, these young women assumed their mothers’ roles as household managers.

Instructed in the arts of conversation and deportment, as well as a knowledge of reading, writing, and simple arithmetic, young women were pleased to be regarded as “amiable,” “accomplished,” and “industrious”—qualities likely to enhance their chances of contracting a good marriage and some day their husbands with “domestic happiness.”

About 7:30 a.m. she is awakened, freshens up, is laced into stays, and dresses perhaps assisted by a young slave woman about her age or older. On some mornings she may choose to rise earlier. “I am awakened out of a sound Sleep with some croaking voice either Patty’s, Milly’s, or some other of our Domestics with Miss Polly Miss Polly get up, tis time to rise” (Maria Carter letter, 1756).

From about 8 to about 8:30 a.m. she breakfasts with the family. “I must bid you Adieu, for the Ladies are just dressed, and I shall not be ready for Breakfast” (Lucinda Lee journal, 1787).

After breakfast she assists her mother with supervising the daily activities of the household. Otherwise she reads, writes letters, draws, practices music, or sews. “Got up early knit a little, read, wrote a letter to Cousin Betsy Hill by Papa, cut out a piece of linning and sew’d on Mama’s apron” (Frances Baylor Hill diary, 1797). “We arrived at Colonel Tayloe’s however by half after nine The young Ladies we found in the Hall playing the Harpsichord” (Philip Fithian journal, 1774).

About 10 a.m. or earlier, if she plans to go walking, visiting, or shopping, she might curl her hair with assistance from a friend or female slave. (Most young women of leisure considered making a handsome, genteel appearance in public essential. Achieving this goal could be time consuming.) If she stays home, she is likely to continue with any of the activities begun after breakfast. “At 10 a.m. went a shopping, bought green morroco shoes and thread” (Ruth Henshaw Bascom diary, 1802). “I have spent the morning in reading; and much to my satisfaction, old Mrs. Gordon is just come to spend the day here. Lucy Gordon and I are just returned from walking out” (Lucinda Lee journal, 1787). “I went out and made Tarts Aple pies & Biscuit, set in the pockets of a waistcoat was all the work I did just before dinner” (Frances Baylor Hill diary, 1797). “I must crape my hair for dinner” (Lucinda Lee journal, 1787).

Before 2 p.m. she goes to her room, freshens up, and possibly changes her outer garments before going to dinner. “It is time to spruce myself for dinner after wch expect Company for Tea” (Ann Blair letter, 1769).

From about 2 to about 3 p.m. she dines with the family and guests. “Look’d for Aunt Temple & family over to dinner, they were prevent’d by the ice, saw no company that day” (Frances Baylor Hill diary, 1797). “Mr. Bell din’d here on boiled eggs, bacon, sallad & c & c” (Ruth Henshaw Bascom diary, 1802).

After dinner she and the other females leave the men at the dinner table and retire to the hall or parlor for conversation over tea or coffee. Or perhaps she takes a walk, rides, goes for a drive, visits friends, or shops. If she stays at home, she and her mother, and perhaps sisters or friends, may visit while sewing or knitting. One of the group may read aloud to amuse or instruct the others. Walking in the garden was a common late afternoon diversion. “I have been very busy to day working a little screne, to hold in my hand to prevent the fire from burning my face. I think it will be beautifull.” [Another day] “About sunset, Nancy, Milly and myself took a walk in the Garden (it is a most butifull place)” (Lucinda Lee journal, 1787).

About 8 p.m. she joins the family and guests for a light supper. “I rode to Nomini Hall about Eight in the Evening… [with older children] sup’d on Crabs & an elegant dish of Strawberries & cream” (Philip Fithian journal, 1774).

From about 8:30 p. m. until 10 or 11 p.m. she, members of her family, and guests socialize at home or with neighbors. Their evening activities include conversation, toasting friends, singing or listening to music, reading aloud, playing cards or board games such as backgammon, dancing, and taking moonlight strolls. Town residents or visitors might also occasionally attend the theater, lectures, concerts, or a subscription ball at the courthouse or one of the taverns. “Kate read the Vicar of Wakefield to me this evening and highly entertained me” (Robert Hunter journal, 1786). “After Supper when I was call’d upon for my Tost I mentioned with Pleasure Miss Betsy Beaty” (Philip Fithian diary, 1774). “We play’d whist from 9 to 11. Capt. Clopper & myself, Mr. Harris & Munroe” (Ruth Henshaw Bascom diary, 1802).

This schedule was altered on Sundays when a young woman and her family went to church or read sermons and prayed at home and on days when a young woman prepared for or attended a social event such as a barbecue or fish feast, a ball, a birthday or holiday parry, a christening, or a wedding. As these events occasionally required extended visits (overnight or longer), preparations included putting finishing touches on new or newly altered clothes and accessories and packing several changes of clothing. On the appointed day much time was spent in fixing hair, getting dressed, and chatting in anticipation of an event, which often extended well past midnight. The following morning the partygoers generally appeared sleepy eyed at a later than usual breakfast after which they either continued the festivities for another day or the guests returned home.

Patricia Gibbs was formerly a historian in the Department of Historical Research. This paper was published in the Colonial Williamsburg Interpreter, Volume 5, No. 6 (1984). This is a 2004 revision of that work, which has been considerably revised.